LOS ANGELES WORKOUT QUOTES AND PHOTOSBERTO JOINED BY GEORGE GROVES & JHONNY GONZALEZ

AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE SHOWDOWNS

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12, LIVE ON SHOWTIME PPV

AT THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS

Photo From Scott Hirano/SHOWTIME

ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER VS. BERTO

Premieres Tonight, Aug. 28 on SHOWTIME® At 10:30pm ET/PT

Watch Episode 1 Preview

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LOS ANGELES – (Aug. 28, 2015) – Two-time welterweight world champion Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) participated in a media workout at the J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career. In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Berto looked focused and in great shape, jumping rope and shadowboxing, as he looks to become the first fighter to defeat 12-time world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs), on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

In addition to Berto, top 168-pound contender George Groves and former three-time world champion Jhonny Gonzalez participated in the media workout as they prepare for their respective fights on the SHOWTIME PPV broadcast.

The training session was hosted by TV & CBS Radio personality Big Tigger and Emmy® Award-winning sports reporter Mark Kriegel andstreamed in high definition across multiple platforms, including via satellite feed, YouTube and social media.

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions, the Sept. 12 four-fight pay-per-view telecast will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPVand is the sixth and final fight of a record-breaking deal between Mayweather and Showtime Networks Inc. SHOWTIME Sports® will support the event with the Sports Emmy® Award-winning series ALL ACCESS.

In world championship fights on the pay-per-view telecast, Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) will defend his WBO Junior Lightweight title in a rematch against four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs), and Badou Jack “The Ripper”(19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make the initial defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs). The opening fight of the telecast will feature former three-time world champion and Mexican power-puncher Jhonny Gonzalez (58-9, 49 KOs) against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo (25-4, 16 KOs) in a 10-round junior lightweight scrap.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions LLC., are priced at $1,500, $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 and are on sale now. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per household for all ticket prices except the $150 ticket category, which is limited to four (4) per household. To charge by phone or with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase atwww.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“From an energy aspect I feel great. It’s my first time in a while coming into a fight with no injuries. This is the healthiest I’ve been since I can remember.

“At the end of the day, this fight was supposed to happen two or three times. Situations with me not taking care of myself and not taking opponents seriously caused it to happen. But styles make fights and we’ll see what the boxing fans say Sept. 12.

“I know that I’m still the same guy who people thought could have given Floyd problems a couple years ago.

“Victor Ortiz and Robert Guerrero both got fights with Floyd because they beat me. There must be something to that. They said ‘if he did something to Berto, he should get a shot at Floyd.'”

“We’re here. It’s my time to see him. He can have his ‘MayVinci’ code because we put in the work. The whole team is confident. I’m going to do what I do.

“We worked on a lot of different things at camp. I have the speed to keep up with him. I have more power.

“The thing with Floyd is, most guys he fights aren’t as athletic as he is. But I am.

“If you come at Floyd fast but don’t have a plan and don’t have good footwork, it’s too easy for him. If you have a guy that’s as athletic as him, it gives him problems.

“There is a lot more to me than just walking guys down. I have speed, I have power, I have a crazy uppercut, I can move to the side. There are a lot of ways I can get it done.

“I’m not going to watch his sparring. I don’t want to watch him driving his cars, none of that. I want to see him Sept. 12.

“This is my first time going into a fight without all the pressure on my back. I’ve always been the favorite in every fight. I don’t know what he’s feeling and I don’t really have to care about it.

“It’s a different mindset. Coming from where I come from, we always had to defeat the odds. We didn’t have what other people had. We had to work twice as hard for everything. To be noticed to be seen. Even back then it drove me to be the best that I can be. I wanted everyone to know I was somebody you had to watch.

“I’ve faced these odds my whole life. I was discounted two years ago when I was laying in the hospital. I’m constantly envisioning victory.

“All the hard work we’re putting in, it’ll all pay off fight night. It’s not just for me. I’ve been through doing things for me. I see what’s real now.

“I’ve prepared myself mentally to be in this position. People can say whatever they want. We’re focused.

“This is going to be for everyone who believes in the underdog.”

Virgil Hunter

“We have a unique opportunity right in front of us. We have a chance at history and to cement a legacy for my fighter (Berto).

“What is the key to winning this fight? (Berto) has got to want to win. He has to want it more. He holds the keys in his hand. You can plan as much as you want for tomorrow, but we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. We can only prepare.

“If (Berto) wins this fight, you’ll see me jumping up and down and it will be hard to compose myself. I’m usually pretty composed, but you might see me jump up and fall out of the ring and hit my head or something.

“No matter what happens, Floyd will always be considered one of the best ever. Win or lose, his legacy is cemented.

“There are similarities between Floyd and Andre Ward. They both started boxing as young boys, and were Olympians and are undefeated. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with being undefeated and they both have faced that.

“It’s not fair to the fight game to say this is a free shot and to go in there and say we have nothing to lose. We have everything to lose.”

George Groves

“Training camp has been going great. We’re fully acclimated to the time change and altitude. We’re performing very well in the gym and fulfilling the plan. I’m ready to rock.

“We’ve trained in the U.S. before. Last year we came over to spar with Gennady Golovkin. This time we’re out there for much longer and it has been very successful.

“I like training in the altitude and I expect it to help me on fight night. We got used to it over the weeks of camp and now it’s time to bring the extra energy to the ring.

“I’m fully immersed in this fight with Badou Jack. Everyone wants to know about the future plans, but I leave that up to the promoters. My main concern is winning that WBC belt.

“I carry power. I have good hands and foot speed. I can control the fight from anywhere. The mistakes that Badou Jack makes, I will take advantage of.

“I want to announce myself as the best fighter in the division and I’m planning on doing that Sept. 12. There won’t be any question marks. After I win this fight, I’ll have proof.

“I’m a valuable commodity in the UK and it’s about time I started building my brand in the states. This is a huge opportunity being on the Mayweather card. The undercard will not be overlooked this night.

“Every fight is more important than the last. It doesn’t matter who you fight, it can affect you in a big way. I have a style that will naturally engage with the fans. People like to see me fight. I look to take the opponent out and that will be the same on Sept. 12.

“Once Badou Jack leaves an opening, I will take it. I plan to look very good doing so.”

Jhonny Gonzalez

“I feel great. I’ve been preparing at the gym a lot and I feel very good about this fight.

“I am ready to win in this division and compete for a world title right away.

“I am fighting so quickly after my last victory because I am very confident. I want to stay active. I want to gain what I had before the loss to [Gary] Russell. I’m moving forward.

“I know that my opponent is a strong fighter. He’s going to throw a lot of punches but I’m going to bring it right back at him hard.

“Being on the Mayweather card is a blessing. I’m excited to be in Las Vegas with the whole world watching.

“I’m honored to be fighting on the Mexican Independence weekend. I’m ready to represent for my Mexican people. I’m going to leave everything in the ring.

“What I want out of this fight, is an opportunity to win a world title. This is why I train so hard, to win world titles and fight in big fights.

“I believe in my power punches. I’m intelligent on the inside and the outside. I believe in myself as a fighter and that is why I’ll win.”

Leonard Ellerbe

“I think Floyd shocked everyone by sparring on his media day on Wednesday. It wasn’t planned. You just never know what you’re going to get at any Mayweather event. He’s always going to do something to attract attention and put on a show.

“There’s no fear in Virgil (Berto’s trainer) or Andre checking it out and finding something that they can use against Floyd. Virgil is an excellent trainer and they will be prepared for everything for this fight.

“Everything is right on track with the promotion. Doing a media workout like this is very important to keep the publicity up and to market the event and let the fighters interact with the fans. We have a tremendous undercard on Sept. 12

“The SHOWTIME All Access episodes have been excellent and are getting the fans and media excited for this fight.”

COMMENTS

Convicted steroid cheat (caught by Vada) looks to be on the juice again. He has the bloated belly of a steroid abuser. Once a cheat always a cheat. Floyd by KO because steroids don't help a chin.

-brownsugar :

I dont know how true that ped stereotype is. .... I personally dont have any way to judge the character of folks by looking at a photo.....
But Berto does look a lot less top heavy these day and appears to have lost that body builder appearance.
I really dont think Berto had a choice except to lose the bulk or he could have potentially muscled all the way up to junior middleweight. Now he looks more normal and comfy at the welterweight limit.
Id like to see Berto and Heredia or anyone else cheat against Floyd Mayweather while he's going for the mystical 49-0.
Virgil Hunter, his trainer said on a Recent Berto prefight workout vid ( on utube )... When he was asked what his game plan was for the fight...... looked amused, .......normally the usually cerebral Hunter has plenty of technical philosophy and expertise to pontificate.
In this instance Virgil said "Berto cannot begin to match the IQ of Mayweather"......did Virg just call him stupid?".... No. ....not really ..... Virgil went onto explain that there is no plan, nada......plans dont work on Floyd, ...Berto just plans to raise all kinds of fistic hell in the ring. ....and fight like a demon.
(paraphrasing Virgil)
Maybe he should get some of those magic power pellets, he's gonna need all the help he can handle.
I think its a little conspicuous that Andre Ward hasnt uttered much in the way of a few encouraging words for Berto...if he has he's keeping it very low key...
Anyway this will be my final birthday fight party with Floyd leading off with the preliminary entertainment.
I look forward to his best prospects Erroll Spence, Gervonta Davis, and the guy everyone is calling the next "Floyd Mayweather" Devin Haney. The kid is only sixteen and has worked with almost every major fighter in and around the welterweight/junior middleweight division including Shawn Porter.
Floyd Joy Senior is already so enamored with the kid that he's introducing him as his son.
Thats what i like about sports there's always someone lurking just beyond shadows, ready to take over.

-deepwater2 :

Berto's shirt is hiding something. Check out the this photo from the same training session.

-brownsugar :

You may be right Deep. I'll take a look later on today...

-Radam G :

Berto is on a non-grain, none-sugar, pop-belly muscular warrior diet. And Lil Floyd -- in his own words -- is on a pizza, soda and being-with-"girls"-day-and-night diet. In this scrap, he hopes to play, but he will pay.
It is time for boxing to be rocked again by an Ali-Spinks-like upset. Lil Floyd is obsessed with criticizing the GOAT about that scrap.
Berto is going to whup Money May's @$$, but the crooked judges will score it a draw, or maybe a split decision for Lil Floyd. Holla!